In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., host Senator Daniel Bonham is joined by two experienced transportation voices: Senator Bruce Starr, who served as Co-Chair of the Transportation Committee for 10 years, and Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, a legislator and small business owner in the trucking industry.
Together, they pull back the curtain on the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and ask a critical question:
If ODOT has a $6 billion budget, why are our roads still in disrepair?
A $1.1 Billion Error—and No Accountability
The episode opens with discussion of a $1.1 billion forecasting error that ODOT failed to disclose for months. This “technical glitch” caused major project delays, funding uncertainty, and significant public distrust.
Despite ODOT’s responsibility to be transparent and efficient, this budget mistake went unaddressed until lawmakers publicly pressed for answers. By that time, damage was already done—projects were canceled, contractors were left hanging, and taxpayers were left in the dark.
“If a private company had missed a billion dollars in its budget, someone would be fired.” – Sen. Bonham
What Oregonians Are Paying For vs. What They’re Getting
The podcast dives deep into how ODOT’s budget is being spent—and why it’s not reaching the roads:
- Curb cuts to nowhere: As part of a federally driven ADA ramp mandate, ODOT is now spending $1.7 billion statewide to replace ramps—some of which serve no actual pedestrian use.
- DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) and “Active Transportation” priorities: More and more highway dollars are being diverted to political and social initiatives like bike lanes, equity programs, and multimodal infrastructure. Meanwhile, Oregon’s core transportation functions—like road maintenance and snowplowing—are suffering.
- Cost overruns: The Abernethy Bridge project, originally budgeted at $248 million, has ballooned to over $812 million—and the full project isn’t even complete.
- Broken promises from 2017’s transportation package: Lawmakers passed a major funding bill in 2017 with promises of critical highway improvements, yet many of those projects remain stalled, scaled back, or canceled.
Oregon’s Constitutional Funding Crisis
By law, Oregon is supposed to split highway cost responsibility fairly between passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. But as revealed in this episode, the state is currently out of compliance with its own constitution—a serious issue that could open the door to legal challenges and further transportation instability.
To make matters worse, fuel tax revenue is declining due to electric vehicle adoption and inflation. But instead of focusing on efficiency, ODOT is now proposing an additional $3.5 billion in new taxes.
“Budgets reflect priorities. And ODOT’s priorities are clearly no longer the roads.” – Rep. Boshart Davis
High-Speed Rail and Clean Trucks: Ambitious or Unrealistic?
The episode also explores ODOT’s support of projects like:
- A California-style high-speed rail plan, led by Metro and inspired by a project in California that’s become a massive, years-long failure.
- The Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which would require freight fleets to shift to electric vehicles despite Oregon lacking the charging infrastructure or economic incentive to support such a transition.
These initiatives are being prioritized while ODOT can’t even keep up with basic plowing and paving—leaving Oregonians asking: What happened to focusing on the core mission?
What Needs to Change?
The lawmakers call for a return to accountable, mission-focused government:
- Reassess and reallocate funding toward core transportation services
- Pause or repeal mandates that drain resources from road users
- Improve transparency around project delays and budgeting
- Enforce constitutional compliance in transportation funding
- Deliver on the promises made in 2017—before asking for more money
Conclusion
Oregonians are driving on crumbling roads, sitting in unplowed snow, and watching billions go to “curb cuts to nowhere.” This episode makes clear: It’s not a lack of funding—it’s a lack of focus.
If government agencies don’t return to their core mission, taxpayers will continue to pay more and get less.